Sun. morning, November 22, 2009

Hi, Everyone,
Thanks for stopping by and great to hear from some of you!
I've not had a chance to do my blog with so much going on.

Early Friday morning, around 1 a.m., I was awake and reading, I heard the most ear-piercing scream from one of the cats. I jumped out of bed but didn't know where the sound was coming from until she screamed again and it was then I realized the scream came from the office room where we also feed the cats and have their litter boxes. When I turned on the light, I saw Tooter lying in the litter box on her side. She was breathing really hard and couldn't move. Hubby had come running also. I stroked her head and talked to her and as we watched her take a couple more breaths, she died!

I don't know if she had a heart attack, or a stroke, but her death was so quick. She was a very good kitty and was especially fond of sitting on my lap while on the phone, watching T.V. or reading. She also loved to be brushed and combed. She was around 15 years old, and I guess it was just her time to go. She and Tigger were actually playing earlier in the evening and Tooter had curled up by my legs and was purring which was her routine each night when I went to bed. I will miss that. She had a good life here, and she was a rescue years ago. She was found in the middle of the road where obviously someone dumped her as a small kitten. We may get another kitten soon to keep Tigger company. She seems lonely and lost without her buddy.

Hubby put her in a box and then put her in the garage. I had to work a fund-raiser all day for the CCAPL and hubby had to work on Friday also. When he got home, he made her a nice wooden box to bury her in. Hubby dug the hole while I was working a fund-raiser again. We buried her yesterday out in the wildflower garden next to B-Bob and Sissy. Now they are all together again. We put her favorite sock toy, a ball, and a mouse she loved to play with in the wooden box with her. We will miss her.

Hard to believe Thanksgiving is almost here and then Christmas. Father-in-law brought the Butterball turkey down last Sunday. It will just be hubby, father-in-law and me on Thanksgiving, but I will prepare a feast just the same!

I received the highest compliment I could get the other day while at a fund-raiser. A gal that came to my WISH group sessions, is remarried and has a wonderful life now! She said I saved her life when she was with her abusive husband and ended up coming to my sessions. She looked so radiant, happy, and at peace. I was humbled.

Sometimes I never know if I help someone or make a difference or not. Her kind and encouraging words were wonderful to hear to lift my spirits that day!

Gotta go for now. Much to do today. Laundry, cleaning (yuck), and loading wood in the woodshed after hubby splits it all with the log splitter. Father-in-law will help too!

Take care, be safe, and be thankful.
Becky :)

We have so much to be thankful for!

Sun. morning, Nov. 1, 2009

Greetings everyone,
Thanks for stopping by!

I saw a gal yesterday in a local drugstore who was in my WISH program a while back. She is doing well, although her ex-husband stopped making the house payments of the home they had, and it went for Sheriff's sale recently. What a jerk. Anyway this is another tactic abusers use to get back at the victim who has moved on in her life and away from her abuser. She is struggling to find a place to live with her kids, but with the determination she has, she will be okay. She is a survivor!

Also heard from a gal I met in Oberlin at a book signing. She finally got her divorce form her abuser. She received full custody of their daughter and wants to move from the area that caused her so much grief and pain...mentally and physically. Good for her. She is also trying to move on, but then again, her abuser is pulling all the stops to keep her under his control. She is a determined woman, and I know she will keep going and make it. It is a constant challenge for survivors to just try to keep their head above water, survive, and try to get a decent life for the themselves and the children involved.

I was out at the pond the other day and saw a tiny flash of orange and white. It was a baby fish! Didn't realize I had a baby fish in the pond! It was only about an inch long and very pretty. I'll be anxious in the spring to see if it survives the winter. I did observe the fish spawning about two months ago, so it must have been produced then. Very late in the season, but hey, I haven't seen any baby fish in a long time, so this is a good thing!

The leaves are almost down and I've used the riding mower to mulch them twice now. Probably one more time and that will do it.

Hubby and I went down in the field yesterday after the rain stopped and cut up more of the big Oak tree that fell during the hurricane last year. The trunk is huge! Father-in-law will be coming down today and he can help too helping me stack the wood in the woodshed after hubby cuts it up with the log splitter.

The Benefit Dinner/Silent Auction I've been working on, is almost complete. It is Nov. 7th. A crew of volunteers will be going to the hall on Friday to decorate, arrange tables, set up the silent auction items, and everything else that needs done. Right now I believe the number of people attending is around 100. So this is a really good response as there are many other functions going on around the area. When we planned this event, there wasn't anything else going on, now there are many. I guess that happens.

My author friend, Joyce Bishop Morris and I, are meeting on Thursday with two other writers for an InkPot writers group meeting at another restaurant in Kent. We are excited we may have recruited two more members!

Winter is just around the corner, and I am not looking forward to it! Although I love the snow falling and Christmas time, but not the short hours of daylight, ice, freezing rain, and general bad weather that comes with winter to drive in. I don't do well with the cold temperatures anymore either. Age thing I guess!

Lots to get done today before the wood-cutting excursion. At least it is going to be a better day, weather-wise to do this.

I'm going to drive down to WalMart this morning after the daylight appears and get some groceries and some other items and be back before the wood-cutting starts.

The dogs are all doing fine. They are still searching in the wild flower garden for the rabbit that took off out of it over two weeks ago! Keeps them busy and good exercise for them. Clara is still fetching her ball of course.

Take care, and be safe. Learn all you can about domestic violence and abuse so you will not be a victim!

Best regards,
Becky :)